Culture (development)

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Culture reflects the impact that technologies have on the beliefs, institutions, arts, laws, customs and daily practices of a people. It evolves in response to a society's technological advancements, shaping both internal social structures and external interactions. The level of development in a given locality plays a significant role in determining how its culture perceives and reacts to outsiders, including player characters.

Less advanced cultures, often deeply rooted in tradition and unfamiliar with foreign influences, tend to be wary or outright hostile toward strangers. Their isolation or limited exposure to external ideas may lead them to respond with suspicion, aggression, or an unwillingness to engage with those from beyond their borders. In contrast, cosmopolitan cultures, accustomed to trade and external contact, are more likely to be open to interactions — though this openness is often driven by economic interests rather than genuine acceptance. While such societies may eagerly accept a player's wealth, they may still maintain social hierarchies or cultural biases that create a distinction between locals and outsiders.

The nature of a society's culture is directly tied to its stage of development, influencing not only how it functions internally but also how it perceives and engages with those from beyond its own sphere. The descriptions below outline how different levels of technological and societal progress shape cultural attitudes and behaviour.

Development Stage 1

DS-1 cultures are rudimentary societies that have mastered only the most basic survival skills, relying on Fishing and Hunting as their primary means of sustenance. Their understanding of the world is deeply rooted in Mysticism, shaping their beliefs, traditions and social structures. Without the influence of advanced technologies, these cultures exist in a state of near-total isolation, bound to the land and the resources immediately available to them. Their traditions are passed down orally, reinforced through ritual and superstition, as they lack any formalized system of writing or record-keeping.

These societies tend to be insular and deeply suspicious of outsiders, as their limited exposure to the wider world makes foreign elements seem dangerous or even supernatural. Encounters with player characters are likely to be met with immediate hostility or extreme caution, as DS-1 cultures have no framework for understanding complex diplomacy or trade beyond simple barter. Their relationships with other groups are defined by territoriality, as the need to secure food and shelter is paramount. Any infringement on their hunting grounds or fishing waters may be perceived as a direct threat, prompting defensive or aggressive responses.

Despite their simplicity, DS-1 cultures are deeply connected to their environment and possess an intuitive understanding of nature that surpasses more technologically advanced societies. They are adept at navigating the wilderness, tracking game and interpreting natural signs that predict weather, migration patterns, or potential dangers. However, their resistance to change means that even beneficial innovations from more advanced cultures may be rejected or misunderstood, further reinforcing their isolation.

Leadership

Socially, DS-1 cultures are structured around kinship groups or small tribal units, where leadership is often informal and based on personal strength, spiritual insight, or survival ability. Power over clans or tribes is held by chiefs and chieftains, whose authority is derived through rites of passage, sacred journeys and vision quests that test endurance, courage and spiritual connection. These trials serve to separate out the weaker members, while those who demonstrate exceptional ability or insight gain status within the clan. These elite individuals form a "council" with the right to partake in decision-making and to select a leader from among themselves. Those who succeed in these tests without distinguishing themselves further form the core strength of the clan, while those who fail become a subservient class, often relegated to menial tasks or treated as lesser members of the society. The determination of special merit is heavily influenced by superstition, with omens, dreams and perceived divine favour playing as much a role in leadership selection as physical or tactical ability.

The concept of law is unwritten, instead enforced through custom and the authority of elders or spiritual figures who claim a connection to unseen forces. Their worldview is deeply animistic, attributing divine significance to natural elements, animals and celestial bodies. Rituals and sacrifices may be common, serving both to appease spirits and to strengthen group cohesion. To survive in such harsh conditions requires immense fortitude; the weak are abandoned, ensuring that the living possess a naturally higher endurance than other humanoids of their species. As a result, members of DS-1 cultures receive +1 strength, +1 constitution and a minimum of 3 hit points. Clan structures are deeply self-supporting and defensive, fostering strong communal bonds and a wariness toward outsiders. This ingrained solidarity grants them a standard morale of 8, making them resolute in the face of hardship and conflict.

Daily Life

In dealing with player characters, DS-1 cultures are unpredictable. They may be deeply hostile, fearing corruption by outside influences, or they may exhibit a wary curiosity, attempting to test the strangers' intentions through ritual or symbolic gestures. Trust, if it can be established, is fragile and easily broken. While some individuals may be open to alliances, the collective nature of the culture means that a single misunderstanding could lead to immediate and violent expulsion.

Members of the council, those who have proven themselves through sacred trials, possess the greatest number of comforts and personal wealth. They enjoy privileges such as personal servants, soft furs to sleep on, imported weapons, metal jewelry and the exclusive use of pottery vessels. Their clothing is more elaborate, consisting of multiple skins, often decorated to display their status. Among the broader population, ownership of placer nuggets, ornamental stones, axes, sea shells and warm furs serves as the primary measure of wealth and importance, with those lacking such items holding little influence.

When not engaged in work or travel, clan members gather to experience religious fervor through the shaman, who leads them in rituals that reinforce their beliefs and social unity. These gatherings are opportunities for communal expression through dance, song and storytelling. Tales of long journeys, acts of bravery and legendary exploits of ancestors are passed down, particularly from the older members to the young. Through these traditions, the clan's history, values and survival skills are preserved, reinforcing their identity and preparing the next generation to uphold their way of life.

Most settlements are found along rivers or coasts, allowing travel between them by boat. However, due to the vast distances between communities, contact is exceedingly rare unless two settlements are within 100 miles of each other. The primary interaction with outsiders occurs when traders arrive in search of valuable resources such as furs, gold, or provisions like dried meat. In these exchanges, direct contact is often avoided, with trade conducted through a form of silent barter, where goods are left at a designated site and retrieved once an offering of equal value has been placed in return. DS-1 settlements seek to acquire metals — particularly copper and bronze, which they have the ability to work — along with pottery and weapons.

Sacred journeys, an essential rite of passage for young clan members, often involve the discovery and veneration of sacred sites and monoliths that hold significance within the wider tribal culture. These sites serve as places of spiritual importance, reinforcing connections between distant settlements that share common ancestry or beliefs. As part of these traditions, new monoliths are sometimes raised and dedicated to legendary figures within the tribe. Over time, these newly erected stones become integral to future sacred journeys, drawing travelers from other settlements who seek to pay homage and reinforce their spiritual and cultural ties to the greater whole.

Religion

Individuals experience a profound sense of awe toward the raw power of nature, particularly the destructive force of storms that threaten boats at sea and bring devastation to the land. Their understanding of divine forces is vague, with little concept of anthropomorphic "gods." Instead, they perceive the world as governed by elemental spirits, unseen entities that control the wind, fire, water and the fury of the storm. Shamans and spiritual leaders call upon these forces, seeking to appease them through ritual and offering, believing that balance with nature is key to survival.

Animal sacrifices are performed at specific times of the year, reinforcing the clan's connection to the cycle of life and death. These rites instill a deep cultural association between sacrifice and communal well-being, shaping the belief that personal loss for the benefit of others is an essential virtue. Death is not seen as an end but as a transition, and those who give of themselves — whether in ritual or battle — are honored as part of the greater spiritual order that sustains the tribe.